Patent application title: Computer aided method and apparatus

Abstract:

A computer aided method and apparatus are disclosed. In at least one
embodiment, the method includes acquiring image data of a scanned
location of a subject by performing a nuclear magnetic resonance scan
thereon, and displaying via a user interface an image formed by the image
data; determining particular feature information by using an image
segmentation algorithm to the image, determining the position of an
acupotome insertion point according to the particular feature
information, and displaying the position of the acupotome insertion point
on the image. In at least one embodiment, the present invention can
provide to a doctor the image information formed after scanning the
scanned location, determine the particular feature information by using
the image segmentation algorithm, and determine the position of the
acupotome insertion point according to the determined particular feature
information, thus providing to the doctor objective evidence for a
decision on an acupotome surgical operation plan, thereby improving the
accuracy of an acupotome treatment.

Claims:

1. A computer aided method, comprising:acquiring image data of a scanned
location of a subject by performing a nuclear magnetic resonance scan
thereon, and displaying an image formed by the acquired image data via a
user interface; anddetermining particular feature information by using an
image segmentation algorithm to the image, determining a position of an
acupotome insertion point according to the determined particular feature
information, and displaying the determined position of the acupotome
insertion point on the image.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining of the
particular feature information by using an image segmentation algorithm
to the image further comprises:processing the image by using the image
segmentation algorithm, and displaying a result of said processing on the
user interface; andsearching for particular feature information
corresponding to the processed result that is the closest to the
processed result in a pre-set information database, wherein the
information database stores particular feature information corresponding
to a variety of processed results.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining the position
of an acupotome insertion point according to said particular feature
information in step B comprises:automatically determining the position of
the acupotome insertion point by using a pre-set strategy according to
the particular feature information.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scanned location for
nuclear magnetic resonance scanning is a location for scanning that is
marked with a checkpoint in advance, wherein the position of the
checkpoint is displayed in the image formed, and wherein the method
further comprises, before displaying the position of the acupotome
insertion point on said image,judging whether the distance between the
position of the checkpoint and the position of the acupotome insertion
point is within a set range,if an answer to the judging is no, then
continuing the execution of the operation of displaying the position of
the acupotome insertion point on the image, and prompting the user that
the marking of the position of the checkpoint is wrong, andif an answer
to the judging is yes, then prompting the user that the marking of the
position of the checkpoint is correct.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:executing said
acquiring again on the scanned location of the subject after having
performed an acupotome operation on the subject; anddisplaying
simultaneously the image before the acupotome operation and the image
after the acupotome operation via the user interface, evaluating the
operation's effectiveness by using a comparison result inputted by a
doctor, and displaying the evaluation result via said user interface.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one of said image
data, the particular feature information, the position of the acupotome
insertion point and the evaluation result is stored in a database set up
for said subject.

7. A computer aided apparatus, comprising:a magnetic resonance scanner to
acquire image data of a scanned location of a subject by performing a
nuclear magnetic resonance scanning thereon;an analyzing unit to
determine particular feature information by using an image segmentation
algorithm to an image formed by said acquired image data;a plan
determining unit to determine a position of an acupotome insertion point
according to the determined particular feature information; anda user
interface to display the image formed by the image data, and to display
the determined position of the acupotome insertion point on the image.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said analyzing unit
comprises:an image processing sub-unit to process the image by using an
image segmentation algorithm, and to provide the processed result to said
user interface;a database storing sub-unit to store the pre-set
particular feature information corresponding to a variety of processed
results; andan information determining sub-unit to search particular
feature information corresponding to a processed result that is the
closest to said processed result in said database storing sub-unit, and
to provide the particular feature information found to said user
interface, and wherein said user interface is also used to display said
processed result provided by said image processing sub-unit and said
particular feature information provided by said information determining
sub-unit.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said analyzing unit
comprises:an image processing sub-unit to process said image by using an
image segmentation algorithm, and to provide said processed result to
said user interface, wherein said user interface is also used for
providing a measurement tool to a user, and for providing the measured
result obtained by the user after having performed a measurement with the
measurement tool to an information determining sub-unit, and for
displaying said processed result provided by said image processing
sub-unit and said particular feature information provided by said
information determining sub-unit; andsaid information determining
sub-unit is also used for determining the particular feature information
according to said measured result, and for providing said particular
feature information to said user interface.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said user interface is
also used for sending a trigger notification to said plan determining
unit upon receiving a trigger for determining a surgical operation plan
performed by a user via the user interface; andafter having received said
trigger notification, said plan determining unit determines the position
of said acupotome insertion point by using a pre-set strategy according
to said particular feature information.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said scanned location by
nuclear magnetic resonance scanning is a location for scanning that is
marked with a checkpoint in advance; the apparatus further comprising:a
judging unit to judge whether the distance between the position of said
checkpoint and the position of the acupotome insertion point determined
by said plan determining unit is within a pre-set range, and if the
distance is judged not to be within the pre-set range, then providing the
position of the acupotome insertion point to said user interface for
displaying, and prompting the user via the user interface that the
marking of the position of the checkpoint is wrong; if the distance is
judged to be within the pre-set range, then prompting the user via the
user interface that the marking of the position of the checkpoint is
correct.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:an
effectiveness evaluating unit to perform evaluation of an operation's
effectiveness according to the comparison result provided by said user
interface, and to provide the evaluation result to said user interface;
whereinsaid user interface is also used to display the image before the
acupotome operation and the image after the acupotome operation which are
acquired by said magnetic resonance scanner, to receive the comparison
result inputted by a doctor, to provide the comparison result to said
effectiveness evaluating unit, and to display said evaluation result.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:an
effectiveness evaluating unit to compare the feature information before
the acupotome operation with the feature information after the acupotome
operation determined by said analyzing unit, to evaluate the operation's
effectiveness according to said comparison result, and to provide the
evaluation result to said user interface, wherein said user interface is
also used for displaying said evaluation result.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:a database
storing unit to store one of said image data, the particular feature
information, the position of the acupotome insertion point and the
evaluation result or any combination thereof in a database set up for
said subject, wherein said analyzing unit is also used for acquiring the
image data from said database storing unit; andsaid plan determining unit
and effectiveness evaluating unit are also used for acquiring the
particular feature information from said database storing unit.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining of the
particular feature information by using an image segmentation algorithm
to the image further comprises:providing to a user a measurement tool on
the user interface; anddetermining the particular feature information
according to a measured result obtained by the user after having
performed a measurement with the measurement tool.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining the
position of an acupotome insertion point according to said particular
feature information comprises:determining, upon receiving a trigger for
determining a surgical operation plan performed by the user via the user
interface, the position of the acupotome insertion point by using a
pre-set strategy according to the particular feature information.

17. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:continuing to
execute the determining of particular feature information by using an
image segmentation algorithm to the image after having executed said
acquiring again on the scanned location of the subject;comparing the
particular feature information obtained before the acupotome operation
with the particular feature information obtained after the acupotome
operation;evaluating the operation's effectiveness according to the
comparison result; anddisplaying the evaluation result via the user
interface.

18. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the particular surgical
operation plan information determined by a user according to the
particular feature information is stored in the database set up for the
subject, and wherein said detailed surgical operation plan information
comprises at least one of a direction of the acupotome insertion and a
depth of the acupotome insertion.

19. A computer readable medium including program segments for, when
executed on a computer device, causing the computer device to implement
the method of claim 1.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said scanned location by
nuclear magnetic resonance scanning is a location for scanning that is
marked with a checkpoint in advance; the apparatus further comprising:a
judging unit to judge whether the distance between the position of said
checkpoint and the position of the acupotome insertion point determined
by said plan determining unit is within a pre-set range, and if the
distance is judged not to be within the pre-set range, then providing the
position of the acupotome insertion point to said user interface for
displaying, and prompting the user via the user interface that the
marking of the position of the checkpoint is wrong; if the distance is
judged to be within the pre-set range, then prompting the user via the
user interface that the marking of the position of the checkpoint is
correct.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:a database
storing unit to store one of said image data, the particular feature
information, the position of the acupotome insertion point and the
evaluation result or any combination thereof in a database set up for
said subject, wherein said analyzing unit is also used for acquiring the
image data from said database storing unit; andsaid plan determining unit
and effectiveness evaluating unit are also used for acquiring the
particular feature information from said database storing unit.

[0003]The acupotome treatment, a new diagnosis and treatment technique in
traditional Chinese medicine, was developed on the basis of the
acupuncture treatments of traditional Chinese medicine and knowledge of
human anatomy. In the acupotome treatment, a doctor uses a surgical tool
called acupotome to resect the soft tissue around an injury to ensure the
normal dynamical equilibrium of the human body. Acupotome treatments are
increasingly gaining attention due to their outstanding curative effects
to injured parts on cervical vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae and other parts
that are difficult to cure.

[0004]During the determination of a surgical operation plan for an
acupotome treatment, it is quite crucial to determine the position of an
acupotome insertion point. However, in the prior art, the position of an
acupotome insertion point is mainly determined by palpating a subject's
ailing part by a doctor, according to his or her personal experiences and
the subject's response to the palpation. That is to say, in existing
acupotome treatments, the doctor cannot obtain particular feature
information regarding an ailing part, such as detailed location of the
ailment, type of ailment, detailed injury parameters, and the like. For
example, if a subject is suffering from a cervical ailment, and the
doctor cannot obtain the information regarding the exact location of the
injury in the cervical part, the exact type of the cervical ailment, and
the degree of the injury and so on, the location of an acupotome
insertion point can only be determined according to the external
conditions at the cervical part and the subject's response, and such
subjective factors will lead to inaccuracy of the treatment, and may even
damage the blood vessels or nerves in some severe cases.

SUMMARY

[0005]In view of the situation, at least one embodiment of the present
invention provides a computer aided method and/or apparatus so as to
improve the accuracy of an acupotome treatment.

[0006]In at least one embodiment, a computer aided method comprises:

[0007]A. acquiring image data of a scanned location of a subject by
performing a nuclear magnetic resonance scan thereon, and displaying the
image formed by said image data via a user interface; and

[0008]B. determining particular feature information by using an image
segmentation algorithm to said image, determining the position of an
acupotome insertion point according to said particular feature
information, and displaying the position of said acupotome insertion
point on said image.

[0009]In at least one embodiment, the determining of the particular
feature information by using a segmentation algorithm to said image in
step B comprises:

[0010]B1. processing said image by using the image segmentation algorithm,
and displaying the result of said processing on said user interface; and

[0011]B2. searching for particular feature information corresponding to a
processed result that is the closest to said processed result in a
pre-set information database, wherein said information database stores
particular feature information corresponding to a variety of processed
results; or, providing to a user a measurement tool on said user
interface, and determining the particular feature information according
to a measured result obtained by the user after having performed a
measurement with the measurement tool.

[0012]In at least one embodiment, the determining the position of an
acupotome insertion point according to said particular feature
information in step B comprises: upon receiving a trigger of determining
an surgical operation plan performed by the user via the user interface,
determining the position of the acupotome insertion point by using a
pre-set strategy according to said particular feature information.

[0013]Said scanned location for nuclear magnetic resonance scanning is a
location for scanning that is marked with a checkpoint in advance;

[0014]the position of the checkpoint is displayed in said image formed;
and

[0015]before displaying the position of said acupotome insertion point on
said image, it further comprises: judging whether the distance between
the position of said checkpoint and the position of said acupotome
insertion point is within a set range, if it is no, then continuing the
execution of the operation of displaying the position of said acupotome
insertion point on said image, and prompting the user that the marking of
the position of the checkpoint is wrong; and if it is yes, then prompting
the user that the marking of the position of the checkpoint is correct.

[0016]In at least one embodiment, the method further comprises: executing
said step A again on said scanned location of said subject after having
performed an acupotome operation on the subject; and

[0017]displaying simultaneously said image before the acupotome operation
and said image after the acupotome operation via the user interface,
evaluating the operation's effectiveness by using a comparison result
inputted by a doctor, and displaying the evaluation result via said user
interface; or, continuing the execution of step B after having executed
said step A again on said scanned location of said subject, comparing the
particular feature information obtained before the acupotome operation
with the particular feature information obtained after the acupotome
operation, evaluating the operation's effectiveness according to the
comparison result, and displaying the evaluation result via said user
interface.

[0018]In a database set up for said subject, in at least one embodiment,
one of said image data, the particular feature information, the position
of the acupotome insertion point and the evaluation result or any
combination thereof is stored; or the particular surgical operation plan
information determined by a user according to said particular feature
information is stored in the database set up for said subject, wherein
said detailed surgical operation plan information comprises: a direction
of the acupotome insertion or a depth of the acupotome insertion.

[0019]In at least one embodiment, a computer aided apparatus comprises: a
magnetic resonance scanner, an analyzing unit, a plan determining unit
and a user interface; wherein

[0020]said magnetic resonance scanner is used for acquiring image data of
a scanned location of a subject by performing a nuclear magnetic
resonance scanning thereon;

[0021]the analyzing unit is used for determining the particular feature
information by using an image segmentation algorithm to the image formed
by said image data;

[0022]the plan determining unit is used for determining the position of an
acupotome insertion point according to said particular feature
information; and

[0023]said user interface is used for displaying the image formed by said
image data, and displaying the position of said acupotome insertion point
on said image.

[0024]In at least one embodiment, the analyzing unit comprises: an image
processing sub-unit, a database storing sub-unit and an information
determining sub-unit; wherein

[0025]said image processing sub-unit is used for processing said image by
using an image segmentation algorithm, and providing said processed
result to said user interface;

[0026]said database storing sub-unit is used for storing the pre-set
particular feature information corresponding to a variety of processed
results;

[0027]said information determining sub-unit is used for searching
particular feature information corresponding to a processed result that
is the closest to said processed result in said database storing
sub-unit, and providing the particular feature information found to said
user interface; and

[0028]said user interface is also used for displaying said processed
result provided by said image processing sub-unit and said particular
feature information provided by said information determining sub-unit.

[0029]In at least one embodiment, the analyzing unit comprises: an image
processing sub-unit and an information determining sub-unit; wherein

[0030]said image processing sub-unit is used for processing said image by
using an image segmentation algorithm, and providing said processed
result to said user interface;

[0031]said user interface is also used for providing a measurement tool to
a user, and providing the measured result obtained by the user after
having performed a measurement with the measurement tool to said
information determining sub-unit, and displaying said processed result
provided by said image processing sub-unit and said particular feature
information provided by said information determining sub-unit; and

[0032]said information determining sub-unit is used for determining the
particular feature information according to said measured result, and
providing said particular feature information to said user interface.

[0033]In at least one embodiment, the user interface is also used for
sending a trigger notification to said plan determining unit upon
receiving a trigger for determining a surgical operation plan performed
by a user via the user interface; and

[0034]after having received said trigger notification, said plan
determining unit determines the position of said acupotome insertion
point by using a pre-set strategy according to said particular feature
information.

[0035]In at least one embodiment, the scanned location by nuclear magnetic
resonance scanning is a location for scanning that is marked with a
checkpoint in advance; and the apparatus further comprises: a judging
unit for judging whether the distance between the position of said
checkpoint and the position of the acupotome insertion point determined
by said plan determining unit is within a pre-set range, if it is no,
then providing the position of the acupotome insertion point to said user
interface for displaying, and prompting the user via the user interface
that the marking of the position of the checkpoint is wrong; and if it is
yes, then prompting the user via the user interface that the marking of
the position of the checkpoint is correct.

[0036]In at least one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises: an
effectiveness evaluating unit for performing evaluation of an operation's
effectiveness according to the comparison result provided by said user
interface, and providing the evaluation result to said user interface;
and

[0037]said user interface is also used for displaying the image before the
acupotome operation and the image after the acupotome operation which are
acquired by said magnetic resonance scanner, receiving the comparison
result inputted by a doctor, providing the comparison result to said
effectiveness evaluating unit, and displaying said evaluation result.

[0038]In at least one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises: an
effectiveness evaluating unit for comparing the feature information
before the acupotome operation with the feature information after the
acupotome operation determined by said analyzing unit, evaluating the
operation's effectiveness according to said comparison result, and
providing the evaluation result to said user interface; and

[0039]said user interface is also used for displaying said evaluation
result.

[0040]In at least one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises: a
database storing unit for storing one of said image data, the particular
feature information, the position of the acupotome insertion point and
the evaluation result or any combination thereof in a database set up for
said subject;

[0041]said analyzing unit can also be used for acquiring the image data
from said database storing unit; and

[0042]said plan determining unit and effectiveness evaluating unit are
also used for acquiring the particular feature information from said
database storing unit.

[0043]It can be seen from the above technical solutions that the method
and apparatus provided in the embodiments of the present invention can
acquire the image data of a scanned location by performing a nuclear
magnetic resonance scanning on the subject's scanned location, and
display the image formed by the image data via a user interface;
determine particular feature information by using an image segmentation
algorithm to said image, determine the position of an acupotome insertion
point according to said particular feature information, and display the
position of the acupotome insertion point on the image. Embodiments of
the present invention can provide the image information formed after
scanning the scanned location to a doctor, which image can reflect the
ailment conditions of the scanned location, and further determine the
particular feature information using the image segmentation algorithm,
and can determine the position of the acupotome insertion point according
to the determined particular feature information, which provide to the
doctor objective evidence for determining an acupotome surgical operation
plan, unlike in the prior art that an acupotome surgical operation plan
is determined only according to some subjective evidence such as the
subject's responses upon palpating and the doctor's personal experience,
thereby improving the accuracy of the acupotome treatment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0044]FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a main method provided according to
embodiments of the present invention;

[0045]FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a particular method provided according to
the embodiments of the present invention;

[0046]FIG. 3a is a structural diagram of an apparatus provided according
to the embodiments of the present invention;

[0047]FIG. 3b is a structural diagram of another apparatus provided
according to the embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0048]In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of
embodiments of the present invention more apparent, the present invention
will be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
and embodiments.

[0049]Various example embodiments will now be described more fully with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which only some example
embodiments are shown. Specific structural and functional details
disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing
example embodiments. The present invention, however, may be embodied in
many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the
example embodiments set forth herein.

[0050]Accordingly, while example embodiments of the invention are capable
of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are
shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in
detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to
limit example embodiments of the present invention to the particular
forms disclosed. On the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all
modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of
the invention. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the
description of the figures.

[0051]It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc.
may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should
not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish
one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a
second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first
element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments of the
present invention. As used herein, the term "and/or," includes any and
all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0052]It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being
"connected," or "coupled," to another element, it can be directly
connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be
present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly
connected," or "directly coupled," to another element, there are no
intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the
relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion
(e.g., "between," versus "directly between," "adjacent," versus "directly
adjacent," etc.).

[0053]The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example
embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a,"
"an," and "the," are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the terms
"and/or" and "at least one of" include any and all combinations of one or
more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that
the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," and/or "including," when
used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,
operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence
or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations,
elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0054]It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations,
the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures.
For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed
substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse
order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.

[0055]Spatially relative terms, such as "beneath", "below", "lower",
"above", "upper", and the like, may be used herein for ease of
description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another
element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be
understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass
different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to
the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in
the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath"
other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other
elements or features. Thus, term such as "below" can encompass both an
orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented
(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative
descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly.

[0056]Although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to
describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections,
it should be understood that these elements, components, regions, layers
and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are
used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or
section from another region, layer, or section. Thus, a first element,
component, region, layer, or section discussed below could be termed a
second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing
from the teachings of the present invention.

[0057]FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a main method provided according to an
embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the method
mainly comprising the following steps:

[0058]step 101: acquiring image data of a scanned location by performing a
nuclear magnetic resonance scanning on the scanned location, and
displaying the image formed by the image data via a user interface; and

[0059]step 102: determining particular feature information with respect to
said image by using an image segmentation algorithm, determining the
position of an acupotome insertion point according to said particular
feature information, and displaying the position of the acupotome
insertion point on said image.

[0060]The above method will be described in conjunction with an embodiment
below, FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the particular method provided according
to the embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in FIG. 2, the
method can comprise particularly the following step:

[0061]step 201: acquiring image data of the scanned location by scanning
the scanned location using the nuclear magnetic resonance scanning
technology, storing the image data in a database set up for each subject
and displaying the data via the user interface.

[0062]In this step, the nuclear magnetic resonance scanning technology is
introduced into the acupotome treatment, and assuming that the cervical
part of a subject is injured, in this step, the computer aided apparatus
can perform a nuclear magnetic resonance scanning on the subject's
cervical part, so as to acquire image data of the cervical part, and
display the nuclear magnetic resonance image of the cervical part
obtained by scanning on the user interface.

[0063]In order to facilitate the management of the relevant diagnosis and
treatment information of the subject, a database can be set up for the
subject, the scanned image data of the scanned location is stored and an
index can be created for the image data, for example, marking the
information of the subject by the index, and it can further include, in
the relevant diagnosis and treatment information of the subject, the
scanning part information, scanning time information and so on, so as to
facilitate the retrieval, comparison and analysis of the diagnosis and
treatment information afterwards.

[0064]In addition, before performing the nuclear magnetic resonance
scanning, the doctor can first mark a checkpoint on the scanned location
of the subject and then carry out the scanning. The checkpoint can be
marked by using vitamin E and so on, and the marked checkpoint will be
shown clearly on the image after the nuclear magnetic resonance scanning
is performed, so as to enable the doctor to quickly find on the image the
region to be observed. In order to facilitate the doctor's observation,
the doctor can determine a region concerned on the image via the user
interface, and during a later diagnosis and treatment process notice can
be paid only to the image within the region concerned.

[0065]Step 202: determining the particular feature information with
respect to the formed image by using the image segmentation algorithm,
and storing the determined feature information in the database.

[0066]In this step, the computer aided apparatus can employ an existing
image segmentation algorithm to process the image formed and display the
processed result on the user interface, and the computer aided apparatus
can search, in a pre-stored information database in which the particular
feature information corresponding to a variety of processed results are
stored, the particular feature information corresponding to the processed
result which is the closest, thereby determining the particular feature
information. For example, a variety of treatment results and the
corresponding particular feature information thereof can be stored in the
information database in advance according to previous diagnosis results,
and then comparing the image formed after a current scanning with a
pre-stored ailment image, and the particular feature information
corresponding to the closest ailment image is selected as the particular
feature information of the current subject.

[0067]Alternatively, the computer aided apparatus can employ the existing
image segmentation algorithm to process the formed image, display the
processed result on the user interface, and then provide a measurement
tool to the doctor via the user interface. The doctor uses the
measurement tool on the user interface to measure the scanned location in
the image, and the computer aided apparatus determines the particular
feature information according to the measured result by the doctor. For
example, a diameter measurement tool, a distance measurement tool, a
color depth measurement tool and so on can be provided to the doctor via
the user interface, and these measurement tools are used to perform the
measurement of the diameter, location and color depth of a tumor, etc. on
the image, and the computer aided apparatus can determine the particular
feature information according to these measured results. The computer
aided apparatus can also pre-store a variety of options of the particular
feature information, and display these options to the doctor via the user
interface, who can select directly the particular feature information of
the subject in the options provided by the user interface, and then the
computer aided apparatus stores the option selected by the user in a
database and displays it to the doctor.

[0068]When displaying the image, 2D or 3D technology can be used to
display the image of the subject according to the particular requirements
of the doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

[0069]In this case, the process of the image segmentation algorithm
processing belongs to the prior art and will not be discussed redundantly
herein.

[0070]The particular feature information can be particular ailment
position, type of ailment, injury parameters and so on, for example,
after scanning a subject's cervical part and using the image segmentation
algorithm to perform the processing, it is determined that the subject's
ailment location is to the left side of the cervical vertebrae at a
distance of 2 cm therefrom, the type of ailment is a tumor, the injury
parameter is 2 cm in the tumor's diameter, the color depth is level 3,
etc.

[0071]Step 203: when the doctor triggers the determination of a surgical
operation plan on the user interface, the computer aided apparatus
determines the position of an acupotome insertion point according to said
particular feature information, and displays the position of the
acupotome insertion point on said image.

[0072]In this step, when the doctor needs to determine the surgical
operation plan of the acupotome operation, the computer aided apparatus
can be triggered via the user interface to determine the surgical
operation plan, and after the computer aided apparatus has been
triggered, the position of the acupotome insertion point is determined
according to the particular feature information determined in step 202 by
using the pre-set strategy. For example, when the particular feature
information is that the ailment location of the subject is to the left
side of the cervical vertebrae at a distance of 2 cm-4 cm therefrom, the
type of ailment is a tumor, the injury parameter is 2 cm in the tumor's
diameter, the color depth is level 3, etc., the position of an acupotome
insertion point can be determined as the middle of the tumor, that is, to
the left side of the cervical vertebrae at a distance of 3 cm therefrom.

[0073]If the doctor marks a checkpoint on the scanned location in advance
before performing a nuclear magnetic resonance scanning, then it can be
judged whether the distance between the position of the marked checkpoint
and the position of the determined insertion point is within a set range
after having determined the position of the insertion point, if it is no,
then displaying the position of determined acupotome insertion point on
the image, and prompting the doctor that the marking of the position of
the checkpoint is wrong; and if it is yes, then prompting the doctor that
the marking of the position of the checkpoint is correct. The doctor can
determine the general position of the acupotome insertion point in
advance according to his or her own experiences, and mark it on the
scanned location as a checkpoint, and then verify according to the
position of the acupotome insertion point determined by the computer
aided apparatus whether the position of the acupotome insertion point
judged by himself or herself is accurate or not.

[0074]When the computer aided apparatus displays the position of the
determined acupotome insertion point on the image, the doctor can
determine other information of the acupotome surgical operation plan
according to the particular feature information, for example, determine
the insertion direction of the acupotome, the insertion depth of the
acupotome and so on, that is to say, the computer aided apparatus
provides objective evidence that determines the acupotome surgical
operation plan for the doctor. The doctor can store the information of
the determined acupotome surgical operation plan in a database via the
user interface, so as to facilitate future retrieval and analysis.

[0075]The doctor can execute an acupotome operation on the scanned
location of the subject according to the determined acupotome surgical
operation plan, and after the acupotome operation, the following steps
can be executed if the evaluation of the operation's effectiveness is
needed:

[0076]step 204: acquiring image data of the scanned location by performing
a nuclear magnetic resonance scanning on the subject's same scanned
location, displaying the image formed by the image data via the user
interface, and storing it in the database.

[0077]After the acupotome operation, the operation of step 201 is repeated
at the same scanned location of the same subject.

[0078]Step 205: retrieving from the database the subject's image before
the acupotome operation according to the instruction of the doctor,
displaying simultaneously via the user interface the images before and
after the acupotome operation, so as to facilitate the doctor to compare
the images before and after the acupotome operation, performing the
evaluation of the operation's effectiveness according to the comparing
results inputted by the doctor, and storing the evaluation results in the
database.

[0079]In addition, it is possible for the computer aided apparatus to
execute the operation of step 202 after step 204 on the image after the
acupotome operation so as to determine the particular feature information
after the acupotome operation, and retrieve from the database the
particular feature information of the subject before the acupotome
operation according to the instruction of the doctor, compare the
particular feature information before and after the acupotome operation,
perform the evaluation of the operation's effectiveness according to the
comparison result, and store the evaluation result in the database and
display it to the doctor.

[0080]During the evaluation, it can be performed by quantitative
comparison, for example, it is possible to compare the diameter of the
tumor, perform evaluation of the operation's effectiveness according to
the amount of reduction in the diameter, and also perform evaluation of
the operation's effectiveness by means of the tumor's level of color
depth and so on. The doctor can determine whether to perform a further
acupotome operation according to the evaluation result.

[0081]The above is the description of the method provided in an embodiment
of the present invention, and the apparatus provided in an embodiment of
the present invention will be described below in detail. FIG. 3a is a
structural diagram of an apparatus provided according to the embodiments
of the present invention, and as shown in FIG. 3a, the apparatus can
comprise: a magnetic resonance scanner 300, an analyzing unit 310, a plan
determining unit 320 and a user interface 330.

[0082]The magnetic resonance scanner 300 is used for acquiring image data
of the scanned location by performing a nuclear magnetic resonance
scanning on the scanned location of the subject.

[0083]The analyzing unit 310 is used for determining the particular
feature information with respect to the image by using the image
segmentation algorithm.

[0084]The plan determining unit 320 is used for determining the position
of the acupotome insertion point according to the particular feature
information.

[0085]The user interface 330 is used for displaying the image formed by
the image data, and displaying the position of the acupotome insertion
point on the image.

[0087]The image processing sub-unit 311 is used for processing the image
by using the image segmentation algorithm and providing the processed
results to the user interface 330.

[0088]The database storing sub-unit 312 is used for storing the pre-set
particular feature information corresponding to a variety of processed
results.

[0089]The information determining sub-unit 313 is used for looking up the
particular feature information corresponding to a processed result that
is the closest to the processed results in the database storing sub-unit
312, and providing the found particular feature information to the user
interface 330.

[0090]Here, the user interface 330 can also be used for displaying the
processed result provided by the image processing sub-unit 311 and the
particular feature information provided by the information determining
sub-unit 313.

[0091]The structure of the above analyzing unit 310 can be used for
accomplishing automatic determination of the particular feature
information. In addition, the analyzing unit 310 can also employ another
structure for accomplishing semi-automatic determination of the
particular feature information, as shown in FIG. 3b. Here, the analyzing
unit 310 can comprise an image processing sub-unit 314 and an information
determining sub-unit 315.

[0092]The image processing sub-unit 314 is used for processing the image
by using the image segmentation algorithm and providing the processed
result to the user interface 330.

[0093]The user interface 330 can also be used for providing a measurement
tool to the user, providing the measured result obtained after having
performed a measurement with the measure tool by the user to the
information determining sub-unit 315, and displaying the processed result
provided by the image processing sub-unit 314 and the particular feature
information provided by the information determining sub-unit 315.

[0094]The information determining sub-unit 315 is used for determining the
particular feature information according to the above measured result,
and providing the particular feature information to the user interface
330.

[0095]If the determination of a surgical operation plan is by way of
trigger by the user, then the user interface 330 can also be used for
sending a trigger notification to the plan determining unit 320 upon
receiving a trigger for determining a surgical operation plan performed
by the user via the user interface.

[0096]After having received the trigger notification, the plan determining
unit 320 determines the position of the acupotome insertion point by
using a pre-set program according to the particular feature information.

[0097]In addition, if the scanned location before a nuclear magnetic
resonance scanning is the one that is marked with a checkpoint in
advance, then the apparatus can further comprise: a judging unit 340 for
judging whether the distance between the position of the checkpoint and
the position of the acupotome insertion point determined by the plan
determining unit 320 is within a set range or not, if it is no, then
providing the position of the acupotome insertion point to the user
interface 330 for displaying, and prompting the user that the marking of
the position of the checkpoint is wrong via the user interface 330, and
if it is yes, then prompting the user that the marking of the position of
checkpoint is correct via the user interface 330.

[0098]Furthermore, the apparatus can comprise: an effectiveness evaluating
unit 350 for performing an evaluation of the operation's effectiveness
according to the comparison result provided by the user interface 330,
and providing the evaluation result to the user interface 330.

[0099]The user interface 330 is also used for displaying the image before
the acupotome operation and the image after the acupotome operation which
is acquired by the magnetic resonance scanner 300, receiving the
comparison result inputted by the doctor, providing the comparison result
to the effectiveness evaluating unit 350, and displaying the evaluation
result.

[0100]Alternatively, the effectiveness evaluating unit 350 is used for
comparing the feature information before an acupotome operation with the
feature information after an acupotome operation determined by the
analyzing unit 310, performing evaluation of the operation's
effectiveness according to the comparison result, and providing the
evaluation result to the user interface 330.

[0101]The user interface 330 is also used for displaying the evaluation
result.

[0102]In order to facilitate the storage of a variety of information of
the subject, and to facilitate future inquiry and analysis, the apparatus
can further comprise: a database storing unit 360 for storing in a
database set up for the subject one of the image data, particular feature
information, position of the acupotome insertion point and evaluation
result or any combination thereof.

[0103]The analyzing unit 310 can also be used for acquiring the image data
from the database storing unit.

[0104]The plan determining unit 320 and the effectiveness evaluating unit
350 are also used for acquiring the particular feature information from
the database storing unit 360.

[0105]It can be seen from the above description that the method and
apparatus provided in at least one embodiment of the present invention
can acquire image data of the scanned location by performing a nuclear
magnetic resonance scanning on the scanned location of a subject, and
display the image formed by the image data via a user interface;
determine particular feature information with respect to the image by
using an image segmentation algorithm, determine the position of an
acupotome insertion point according to said particular feature
information, and display the position of the acupotome insertion point on
the image. The present invention can provide to a doctor the image
information formed after having scanned the scanned location, which image
can reflect the ailment condition of the scanned location, determine the
particular feature information by further using the image segmentation
algorithm, and can determine the position of the acupotome insertion
point according to the determined particular feature information, which
provide objective evidence that determines the acupotome surgical
operation plan for the doctor, which is unlike the prior art which
determines the acupotome surgical operation plan only according to some
subjective evidence such as the subject's responses upon palpating and
the doctor's personal experience, thereby improving the accuracy of
acupotome treatment.

[0106]In addition, the method and apparatus provided in at least one
embodiment of the present invention can also compare the particular
feature information before and after the acupotome operation, perform the
evaluation of the operation's effectiveness according to the comparison
result, and display the evaluation result to the doctor, thereby visually
providing to the doctor the treatment effectiveness of the acupotome
operation, so as to facilitate the determination of a further surgical
operation plan for the doctor. Furthermore, the scanned image, the
determined particular feature information, the determined acupotome
surgical operation plan and the evaluation result of the operation's
effectiveness can be stored in a database set up for the subject to
facilitate the future retrieval and analysis.

[0107]What are described above are merely example embodiments of the
present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention;
any modification, equivalent replacement and improvement, etc. within the
spirit and principle of the present invention should be covered in the
protective scope of the present invention.

[0108]The patent claims filed with the application are formulation
proposals without prejudice for obtaining more extensive patent
protection. The applicant reserves the right to claim even further
combinations of features previously disclosed only in the description
and/or drawings.

[0109]The example embodiment or each example embodiment should not be
understood as a restriction of the invention. Rather, numerous variations
and modifications are possible in the context of the present disclosure,
in particular those variants and combinations which can be inferred by
the person skilled in the art with regard to achieving the object for
example by combination or modification of individual features or elements
or method steps that are described in connection with the general or
specific part of the description and are contained in the claims and/or
the drawings, and, by way of combineable features, lead to a new subject
matter or to new method steps or sequences of method steps, including
insofar as they concern production, testing and operating methods.

[0110]References back that are used in dependent claims indicate the
further embodiment of the subject matter of the main claim by way of the
features of the respective dependent claim; they should not be understood
as dispensing with obtaining independent protection of the subject matter
for the combinations of features in the referred-back dependent claims.
Furthermore, with regard to interpreting the claims, where a feature is
concretized in more specific detail in a subordinate claim, it should be
assumed that such a restriction is not present in the respective
preceding claims.

[0111]Since the subject matter of the dependent claims in relation to the
prior art on the priority date may form separate and independent
inventions, the applicant reserves the right to make them the subject
matter of independent claims or divisional declarations. They may
furthermore also contain independent inventions which have a
configuration that is independent of the subject matters of the preceding
dependent claims.

[0112]Further, elements and/or features of different example embodiments
may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within
the scope of this disclosure and appended claims.

[0113]Still further, any one of the above-described and other example
features of the present invention may be embodied in the form of an
apparatus, method, system, computer program, computer readable medium and
computer program product. For example, of the aforementioned methods may
be embodied in the form of a system or device, including, but not limited
to, any of the structure for performing the methodology illustrated in
the drawings.

[0114]Even further, any of the aforementioned methods may be embodied in
the form of a program. The program may be stored on a computer readable
medium and is adapted to perform any one of the aforementioned methods
when run on a computer device (a device including a processor). Thus, the
storage medium or computer readable medium, is adapted to store
information and is adapted to interact with a data processing facility or
computer device to execute the program of any of the above mentioned
embodiments and/or to perform the method of any of the above mentioned
embodiments.

[0115]The computer readable medium or storage medium may be a built-in
medium installed inside a computer device main body or a removable medium
arranged so that it can be separated from the computer device main body.
Examples of the built-in medium include, but are not limited to,
rewriteable non-volatile memories, such as ROMs and flash memories, and
hard disks. Examples of the removable medium include, but are not limited
to, optical storage media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs; magneto-optical
storage media, such as MOs; magnetism storage media, including but not
limited to floppy disks (trademark), cassette tapes, and removable hard
disks; media with a built-in rewriteable non-volatile memory, including
but not limited to memory cards; and media with a built-in ROM, including
but not limited to ROM cassettes; etc. Furthermore, various information
regarding stored images, for example, property information, may be stored
in any other form, or it may be provided in other ways.

[0116]Example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present
invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled
in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following
claims.